Treatments for Desmoid Tumor in Children

Contact the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program

Treatment depends on the extent of the problem and your child's overall health and medical history.

Treatment your doctor recommends may include:

Surgery - Surgical removal of your child's tumor by a surgeon is the primary treatment; and because Desmoid tumor rarely metastasizes, surgery alone is often the only treatment. However, Desmoid tumors often return, so sometimes more than one surgery is needed.

Anti-inflammatory medication - Given to help manage pain and swelling. In some cases these medications will cause the tumor to slowly shrink.

Radiation therapy - Using high-energy rays (radiation) from a specialized machine to damage or kill cancer cells and shrink tumors; radiation is used alone or in conjunction with surgery.

Hormone therapy - Because some hormones seem to increase the growth of Desmoid tumors, anti-hormonal medications are sometimes used in treatment.

Chemotherapy - If surgeons are unable to remove your child's tumor because of the size or location, researchers are testing some types of chemotherapy to reduce the tumor

What is the recommended long-term care for children treated for Desmoid tumors?

Children should visit a survivorship clinic every year to:

manage disease complications

screen for early recurrence of cancer

manage late effects of

A typical follow-up visit may include some or all of the following:

a physical exam

laboratory testing

imaging

Through the David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, childhood cancer survivors receive a comprehensive follow-up evaluation from their cancer care team.

Our childhood cancer survivorship clinic is held weekly.

In addition to meeting with your pediatric oncologists, your child may see one of our endocrinologists, cardiologists, neurologists, neuro-psychologists or alternative/complementary therapy specialists.

We also offer the following services:

patient and family education

psychosocial assessment

genetic counseling

reproductive and fertility evaluation and counseling

opportunities to speak with other childhood cancer survivors

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